Album Review: Graveyard - 6
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
For anybody who had the pleasure of watching Graveyard live on their trip over to the UK back in May this year, it was almost like an out of body experience, as they demonstrated why they are one of the best live bands around. And the anticipation surrounding their upcoming release of the imaginatively entitled sixth album has been palpable.
The wonderfully titled “6” brings nine new songs to the table, and although this may be instantly recognisable it is a different kind of album from the Swedish foursome. It’s the second album to feature the line-up of vocalist/guitarist Joakim Nilsson, guiatarist Jonatan Ramm, bassist Truls Morck and drummer Oskar Bergenheim, and it’s slower, more soulful, more introspective and a little darker in places, reflected beautifully in the opening track “Godnatt” that shimmers and flows along effortlessly.
As with most bands, the pandemic features throughout, drawing more inspiration than ever from the blues in the process, but songs like the first released single “Twice” written about how people can change a lot and not always for the better, give the album a kick up the arse, with an upbeat tempo that drives the song. Before the cowboy-esque garage rock sturm `n` twang of “I Follow You” delivers another touch of class, with nimble bass and drums and desolateguitars allowing the recently released second single, “Breathe in, Beathe Out” to sneak up with its drifting swamp gospel and add something different to their unique sound.
The band have reverted back to their original ethos on this album, with the new songs being raw and sometimes primitive, whilst being captured using analogue equipment only. Lovers of the band will appreciate and enjoy the wider range of music that they are playing with, from languorous blues to kaleidoscopic psych, with songs like the bleary eyed “Sad Song” and “Bright Lights” being more intimate and emotionally charged, with Ramm’s lyrics being more monochrome and melocholy.
The quartet are back, and back with a vengeance, armed with possibly their darkest album yet, but it’s bold and more accessible, with “Rampant Fields” being all about making mistakes and realising that this is a rollercoaster ride, and it captures a moment of time when things were a little different for all of us. Their sound feels refreshed and supercharged all wrapped around the soothing tones of hope.
